We continue our tour of the country looking at top teams of all ages and today stop off in the Sooner State to look at the Oklahoma Ultimate 02 team.

Coached by Bobby Walde, the second year 12U team won the 2014 USSSA 11U World Series in Des Moines, Ia. last year after placing 5^th in the 10U ASA Nationals in Bowling Green, Ky. two years ago.

Formed as a 9U team, the then-named OK Express 02 girls captured the 9U USSSSA World Series in their very first year of existence.

One reason for the team’s success: chemistry. Says Coach Walde, “I’ve never been a part of a team with the chemistry this team has.  These girls absolutely love playing for each other and it shows on the field.  They are a very special group of young ladies!”

Here’s more on this up-and-coming team…

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FullCountSoftball.com: When did the team or program start and how and why did it come to be?
Bobby Walde: When we started our team in 2012 we had three committed players and our goal was to surround those three with players of similar skill level and similar passion for the game. I felt like if we could put a team like that together, we would eventually be able to compete with the top teams in our area.

FCS.com: Where are you based?  Where do your athletes come from (all locally, some out of state?)
BW: Our organization is based out of Tuttle, Okla. Most of our players are from the communities in and around the Oklahoma City area with one exception who travels about three hours from near the Arkansas border.

FCS.com: What was the purpose of creating the team (showcase players, win titles, develop skills, etc.)?  
BW: It’s 100 percent about developing skills. We really just wanted to put together a team that could compete with the top teams in our area. Winning titles and showcasing players to college scouts was not even on our radar in the spring of 2012. From Day 1 these girls have continually exceeded my expectations.

FCS.com: What have been some of your successes in terms of winning or placing at events?
BW: We were the champions of the 2014 USSSA 11U World Series in Des Moines, Ia. and were runners-up in the 2014 ASA 12U Fall Texas Challenge in Ft Worth, Texas. We placed 5^th in the 2013 ASA 10U Nationals in Bowling Green, Ky. and were the champions of the 2012 USSSA 9U World Series in Branson, Mo. as “OK Express.” Our record since our inception is 378-72-13.

FCS.com: What’s your softball background and how did you get to the point of leading the team?
BW: My background is in baseball. I was a pitcher and first baseman in high school back in the 1990’s and played college ball in Hutchinson, Kan.   Over the last few years however, I have absolutely grown to love fastpitch softball. I have really enjoyed learning the nuances of the game as it relates to baseball and would now much rather watch a college softball game than a pro or college baseball game any day.

FCS.com: Has there been a key moment or defining experience in the team’s history?
BW: I think the 2013 ASA National in Kentucky when we placed 5th was a great experience for our girls. It was the first time we had competed against some top teams from outside our region including some very talented West Coast teams. By placing 5^th we gained confidence and proved to ourselves we belonged in a field with the top teams in the country. The experience also showed us what the elite teams in the country looked like and gave us an idea where we would need to be in order to win a tournament of that caliber.

FCS.com: What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
BW: My goal at this point is the same it was in 2012 when we started: to develop my players. I’ve been lucky to have some very talented, very driven, and very passionate players to work with. This team is special and I feel a great sense of responsibility to give these girls everything I have as a coach.

FCS.com: What do you think are the strengths of the team?
BW: Our pitching is definitely a strength and we have a great mix of speed and power on offense, but I think the number one reason we are successful is our chemistry. I’ve never been around a team that was this close. These girls absolutely love playing with and for each other and it shows on the field.

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Here’s a player-by-player look at the team with comments from Coach Walde…

— SS/3B Aaliyah Brown (2020, uncommitted)
“Aaliyah is the best hitter I’ve seen in this age group. She has unbelievable power and has been hitting tape measure home runs since she was nine years old. She hit seven homers last season including two in the USSSA World Series and led the team in hitting, slugging, RBI, and on-base percentage. Aaliyah also has a great glove and locks down the left side of the infield either at short or third. In addition, she has excellent speed and has consistently been one of our team leaders in steals and runs scored as well.”

— P/1B Tate Tatum (2020, uncommitted)
“Tate has been a rock for us in the circle for several years and her poise in there is one of her best strengths. Tate gets better as the pressure gets higher. When runners get in scoring position, she locks in to another level. Her spin and control are outstanding for this age group, and she has several pitches that she throws effectively. She is really good at getting the ball in and out of the zone quickly. At the plate, Tate has excellent pop in her bat and has always been a high average, high RBI hitter in the middle of the lineup.”

— C/SS Whitney Walde (2020, uncommitted)
“Whitney is a great athlete. She can play several positions at an elite level but her best position is catcher. Whitney’s specialty is picking off baserunners from behind the plate and our pitchers love her ability to frame up pitches on the corners. With her great speed and exceptional softball instincts, Whitney sets the table for us at lead off and led the team in stolen bases and runs scored last season. She is a polished slapper who can also hit away or bunt for a hit, making her a true triple threat at the plate.”  

— P/CF Rylan Dooner (2021, uncommitted)
“Rylan joined our team this past fall as a hard throwing right handed pitcher and I love her potential in the circle. She has only been pitching a couple of years and if she keeps progressing as she has she could end up being one of the best in this age group. Rylan is very athletic with a great combination of size, strength, speed, and agility. At the plate her combination of power and speed makes her a tough out in the middle of our lineup.

— OF Kenedi Morelock (2020, uncommitted)
“Kenedi is another table setter for our team or a ‘get-er on-er’ as we like to say. She’s a slapper with great speed and usually does her damage from the 2 hole in the lineup. Kenedi has excellent hand-eye coordination and has a really good eye at the plate which makes her tough to strike out. She’s also a very intelligent, coachable player and her speed really helps shrink the outfield for us as she usually patrols left field.”

— P/1B Hannah Williams (2020, uncommitted)
“Hannah is a power hitter for us or a ‘get-er in-er’. She has come to be known as ‘Big Hit Hannah’ on our team for her propensity for coming through in the clutch. Pressure does not rattle this kid. In fact, she thrives on it. On defense she has a great glove and saves our infielders plenty of errors at first base with her ability to scoop bad throws. Hannah is also a very effective pitcher and helps eat up innings in the circle for us.”

— 2B/OF Kennedy Sherer (2020, uncommitted)
“Kennedy has been our rock at 2^nd base for several seasons. She is very adept at turning the double play and she assisted on several double plays during our USSSA World Series run last season. Kennedy is also a triple threat left handed hitter. She has put in hours and hours in the cage over the last year converting from a right hand hitter and the work has paid off as she is now getting in a groove on the left side.”

— OF Holly Heiner (2021, uncommitted)
“Holly is a ‘tough as nails’ type player that would never leave the softball field if she had a choice. Nobody will outwork Holly when it comes to softball. She has very few weaknesses. She just does everything really well and is one of those players you wouldn’t trade for anyone. She is often among the team leaders in on base percentage and has tremendous power for her small stature.”

— 3B/C Hannah Buchanan (2021, uncommitted)
“We picked up Hannah this season mainly to help at catcher and she has done a great job there so far, but we were surprised and really impressed with her play at third base on defense. Her ability to play both positions equally well really opens up our options. At the plate, the ball really seems to jump off her bat. She’s another power hitter with good speed for us and I anticipate she’ll level off in the middle of the order by the end of the season.”

— OF Remi West (2021, uncommitted)
“Remi is a triple threat, left handed hitter who can bunt, slap, or hit away effectively when needed. Last season she was among the team leaders in on base percentage and also had a slugging percentage of .568. Remi also has great speed which helps her track down fly balls in the outfield other players would not get to.”